Chapter 2
"Geez, what's the crime rate in this place?" Natasha asked as she walked down the streets of Gotham with you.
"I'd guess about 97%."
"I can believe it. How are we going to find this contact of yours?"
"Shouldn't be too hard. Everyone knows Penguin."
"Penguin?" she asked with a small surprised laugh.
"Yeah. The name used to piss him off when he first got it. Somewhere along the line he learned to take it in stride. Of course, that was after teaching every criminal in Gotham to live in fear of his wrath."
"What is he?"
"The King of Gotham."
She gave you a strange look so you continued, "Top of the crime food chain. Well, most of the time. Sometimes he gets kicked off the top shelf. But, he always manages to claw his way back up."
"So, the godfather?"
"The Marlon Brando type he ain't, but yeah. You'll see for yourself."
You had arrived outside of The Iceburg Lounge. As far as you knew, this was still Penguin's place. Of course, you hadn't been in touch in a long time.
"We need to watch out in here," you said.
"I've been watching both of our backs since we got off the jet."
Linking your arm with hers, you both made your way through the door. The club was crowded. Perhaps that was best. Maybe you'd just blend in with the customers. You were in your street clothes and your weapons were concealed. Inconspicuous was the look you were going for.
Making your way over to the bar, you both took a seat and waited for the bartender to notice you.
"What can I get you ladies?" he yelled over the music.
"Is this still Penguin's joint?" you asked.
"Depends on who's asking."
"An old friend. I need to see him."
"People don't usually get in to see the boss without an appointment."
"Tell him Y/f/n Y/l/n is here."
"Alright, on one condition...you both have to order a drink...and leave a good tip."
You shook your head with a snort.
"Fine, a crown and coke for me."
"I'll just take a cosmo," Natasha said.
"Be right back," he said.
While his other half prepared your drinks, he slipped out from behind the bar and walked to where you assumed Penguin's office must have been located.
By the time your glass was about half empty, you saw that familiar gait headed your way.
"Y/n!" he said, his arms outstretched. Slipping off your barstool, you met him in an embrace. When you parted, he took ahold of your hands and said, "It is so wonderful to see you! It has been far too long!"
"That it has, Oswald."
"Come, you and your friend join me in my office so we can have a little visit."
"Let us pay our tab really quick."
"Nonsense, your drinks are on the house."
"Okay, but there's the matter of the tip. It was the cost of getting in to see you."
You turned to Natasha to find her sliding a twenty across the bar.
"That really wasn't necessary," Penguin said, taking you by the arm and leading you towards his office. You were aware of Natasha's watchful presence right behind you.
When you arrived in his office, he motioned towards the seats across from his desk.
"Please, make yourselves at home."
"Let me make the introductions," you began. "Oswald, this is my friend, Natasha Romanoff. Natasha, Oswald Cobblepot."
"Any friend of y/n's is a friend of mine," Oswald said, offering his hand to Natasha.
She shook it politely before sitting down. Her face still wore the cautious look of the professional that she was.
"May I start by saying how incredibly proud I am of you...an Avenger!" Oswald said with a smile. Turning his attention to Natasha, he continued, "Do you know I offered this woman a job several years ago? I thought it was a mistake when she turned me down, but look at her now!"
You blushed with embarrassment from Oswald's praises.
"But, I carry on!" he said, looking back to you. "Since you brought your colleague with you, I assume this isn't just a social call."
"I'm afraid not. I need a favor."
"Anything for you, my dear."
You started telling him about the mark, and what you hoped he would agree to do.
"We need someone with quite the reputation."
"I do have that, don't I?" he said with a laugh.
You passed him a paper copy of the information. His brows furrowed when he read it. You couldn't blame him; it wasn't much.
"I know it's not a lot to go on, but I knew if anybody could do it, it would be you." A little flattery never hurt, especially in Penguin's case.
"Will you do it? you asked.
"Of course I will."
"Thank you, Oswald. I owe you."
"Nonsense, friends don't owe friends, silly."
You couldn't help but smile at his reassurances, even though you knew he rarely did anything for nothing. In the back of your mind, you wondered if this would come back to bite you.
"Oswald, I finished taking care of that problem," a man's voice said behind you as he came through the office door. "Y/n?" he added, his train of thought sounding interrupted.
Your spine stiffened as you froze in your seat. Even without looking at him, you knew who it was. The way your name rolled off his lips was cemented in your memory.
Sensing your increased tension, Natasha stood up and moved closer to you. She made the act seem casual, but you knew it was anything but.
"Edward!" Oswald yelled, seemingly irritated by the interruption. "Can't you see I'm busy here?"
Finally turning around in your seat to face him, you said, "Hello, Edward. How are you? I didn't realize you'd gotten out of Arkham."
"I tried calling you. The number was disconnected."
"Tony bought me a new phone. It already had a different number installed."
"Right, Tony," he began, "I heard about that...an Avenger....that's a powerful step up. Congratulations."
"Thank you. Speaking of which, this is my friend and teammate, Natasha Romanoff. Nat, this is Edward Nygma.
"It's a pleasure," he said to Nat, his eyes not leaving you as he did so.
"Uh huh," she replied, putting herself between the two of you ever so slightly. She didn't like the look in his eyes. It reminded her of a hungry cat watching a caged canary.
"We're discussing business, Ed," Penguin said, the frustration barely contained. "You can tell me about it later."
"It's alright. We need to be going anyway," you said, standing up.
"But, what about the arrangements?" Oswald said, following suit.
"I don't know how long it will take for contact to be established so we're going home. As soon as you hear from him though, let us know. Then, we'll set up our operation somewhere around here, most likely. That's really Steve's call though. Thank you again, Oswald."
"Of course."
"Goodbye, Ed," you said, walking past him as quickly as you could with Natasha still playing interference.
Once you were outside, she asked, "Ok, what was that about?"
"It's a long story."
"And you're not going to tell your best friend?"
"I will...just, not right now, okay?"
Taking ahold of your hand, she gave it a squeeze and said, "Okay, but don't think I'll forget."
"I wouldn't dream of it. I'm not that lucky," you said, shooting her a sideways smirk.
"We should call Steve."
"Already on it," you said, pulling out your phone and dialing.
"It's taken care of," you told Steve after he answered.
"Good. I've been thinking, we should probably inform local law enforcement so they don't inadvertently mess up our operation. Do you mind handling that while you're there?"
"Of course not. I know a couple of guys in the GCPD."
"Good. Once that's done, come on home."
"Yes, sir," you said playfully.
You swore you could hear him smiling on the other end of the phone when he said, "What did I tell you about that?"
"'I love it. Don't ever stop.' Maybe not in so many words, but the sentiment was the same."
He laughed and said affectionately, "You're incorrigible...what?" He was obviously listening to someone on his end now. "Clint said to hurry up. He's tired of worrying about the two of you out there all alone."
"Oh, he's going to catch hell for that when we get back."
"I don't doubt it. See you guys later."
"Bye, Cap."
"How long was your mission here that you know so many people?" Natasha asked once you'd hung up.
"I can't remember exactly. Several weeks, at least."
"Undercover?"
"Started out that way, but then my cover got blown so I had to change tactics."
"Is that part of that story you aren't going to tell me right now?" she asked.
"Yep."
"Sometimes you're no fun, you know that?"
----------------
"Excuse me," you said, getting the desk sergeant's attention. "Is Jim Gordon or Harvey Bullock here?"
"You just missed Gordon, but Bullock is hanging around here somewhere. If you wait at his desk right up there, he'll probably come out of hiding at some point."
"Thanks."
As you made your way up the steps, memories both good and bad came flooding back. You'd only been on assignment here for a few weeks, but they had been something else. You'd often wondered how people lived here without going insane. Your career meant your life was anything but sheltered, but even it hadn't prepared you for this place.
"Well, well, look who's here!" Harvey said, coming around the corner with a cup of coffee.
"Hey, Harvey," you said, giving him a big hug. "How have you been?"
"Eh, the same. Gotham doesn't really change much, the roster of freaks just does. Hello," he said when his attention landed on Natasha.
You tried to suppress a grin remembering how much Harvey liked redheads.
"No need for introduction, I know who you are," he said. Tipping his hat slightly, he added, "I'm Detective Bullock."
"Nice to meet you," Natasha said with a smile. Obviously she was getting a much more favorable reading off Harvey than she had Oswald or Edward.
Sitting at his desk, he asked, "So, what can I do you for?"
"We are going to be setting up a weapons bust. I need you guys not to lean too much on Penguin for awhile."
"You're going to be busting Penguin? Maybe with you doing it, it'll actually stick."
"No, sorry, he's going to be helping us."
"Damn," he muttered, his disappointment obvious.
"Can you work it out for me? I know how Gordan can be."
"Yeah, I'll take care of it."
"Thanks, Harvey," you said as you got ready to leave.
"Where is your team going to be setting up? If you're too close, you might get compromised. Personally, I don't care if Penguin gets snuffed or not in the process. But, I'd hate for your hard work to go to waste."
"I don't know. It needs to be close enough that we can move in quickly and quietly when the time comes."
"You know where would be perfect? Wayne Manor," Harvey said. "Hell, the kid might even go for it. He's always getting mixed up in everything that goes wrong in this city...somehow or another."
"I'll think about it. See you around, Harv," you said, heading down the steps.
"Catch you later, y/n. It was nice meeting you, Red!"